UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
II Samuel 24:11
"Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's ser, saying, 'Go and tell David, "Thus says the LORD: 'I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.' " ' "
This is a strange story and I don't pretend to understand it all. David sinned, and God said he could choose the punishment for himself (note "yourself" and "you" in the verse). He chose three days of plague rather than seven years of famine or three months of war. I don't think that David intended for 70,000 innocent people to die for his sin (vs. 13). That is more than double the population of Sun City West, Arizona. And more would have died had not God in His mercy relented (vs. 16). All of that for a sin that seems innocuous to the human mind. But it was grievous to God. It is sad that innocent people pay the price for one man's sin. Leaders, especially, must understand that their actions affect many innocent people under their rule. Sin does not affect only the perpetrator, but many other people. And sometimes those "other people" pay a great price. We don't often think about how our actions affect our neighbors. No man lives to himself; his life – for good or bad – brings consequences on those around him. I know that God is merciful and forgives sin, but that does not always stop the unintended consequences that affect other people.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Sin brings consequences, and sometimes those consequences affect many innocent people.
[end]
Have a thoughtful day. Love you.
II Samuel 24:11
"Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's ser, saying, 'Go and tell David, "Thus says the LORD: 'I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.' " ' "
This is a strange story and I don't pretend to understand it all. David sinned, and God said he could choose the punishment for himself (note "yourself" and "you" in the verse). He chose three days of plague rather than seven years of famine or three months of war. I don't think that David intended for 70,000 innocent people to die for his sin (vs. 13). That is more than double the population of Sun City West, Arizona. And more would have died had not God in His mercy relented (vs. 16). All of that for a sin that seems innocuous to the human mind. But it was grievous to God. It is sad that innocent people pay the price for one man's sin. Leaders, especially, must understand that their actions affect many innocent people under their rule. Sin does not affect only the perpetrator, but many other people. And sometimes those "other people" pay a great price. We don't often think about how our actions affect our neighbors. No man lives to himself; his life – for good or bad – brings consequences on those around him. I know that God is merciful and forgives sin, but that does not always stop the unintended consequences that affect other people.
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Sin brings consequences, and sometimes those consequences affect many innocent people.
[end]
Have a thoughtful day. Love you.
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